i have a theory that low engine oil can cause problems with the power steering.

that low oil level causes the electric fan to cut in and alternator efficiency is reduced by engine temperature, discharging the battery

i thought i would start a thread because my experience is purely anecdotal and i would be keen to hear of other peoples experiences.

a quick google might help before replying, all replies welcome whether for or against!

thanks again

john

So by that same theiory using airconditioning, rear screen heater or having all your lights on full, all which load the alternator or engine, would also do the same. Its utter rubbish!

johnswlondon said:

i have a theory that low engine oil can cause problems with the power steering.

that low oil level causes the electric fan to cut in and alternator efficiency is reduced by engine temperature, discharging the battery

i thought i would start a thread because my experience is purely anecdotal and i would be keen to hear of other peoples experiences.

a quick google might help before replying, all replies welcome whether for or against!

thanks again

john

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Sorry - can't subscribe to this at all. Apart from anything else, the Panda was designed, developed and tested in Italy, where ambient temperatures can exceed 40C/100+F every day for weeks on end and under-bonnet temperatures can be very high.

:shakehead:

Utter rubbish!

Low oil won't make the fan come on more. Alternator efficiency is not affected by temperature (within the range under the average car bonnet), and anyway, a lead acid battery holds its charge better when warm, so if your theory was correct, this would counteract it. Only low power steering (hydraulic) fluid, not engine oil, could cause a power steering problem (but not, of course, on the electrically-assisted Panda steering)

Technically, your 'experience' cannot be 'anecdotal'. An anecdote is an amusing tale told to you by someone else, which means it is the story-teller's experience, not yours.

Steady on folks. John has posted an opinion. Posts on forums like this one are mostly (in my experience) started to provoke a discussion or, alternatively, to gain knowledge for the OP.

It could be that John has observed, or has spoken to someone who has observed, power steering faults coinciding with low oil levels. A conection ( a very tenuous one admittedly) could be made between engine heat and low oil levels because one of the functions of engine oil is to aid cooling. Mechanical and electrical components also function less efficiently if they get too hot, which is why computers have cooling fans and amplifiers have air vents

As for his experience being anecdotal, perhaps John was thinking of anecdotal evidence instead. Although an anecdote is usually an amusing tale as herts Hillhopper states, anecdotal evidence is usually unscientific, or pseudoscientific. It's also often a result of people passing on their experience, although this often ends up as a kind of "Chinese Whispers".

So let's not just slag John off, argue/debate fo your position or against his in an objective manner.

Remember, as Voltaire said: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Changing the ubject slightly anyway - can we have a definition of the failure?

In other words, does the failure prevent the car being steered at all? I'm thinking not. If that's the case then I think I'd just get used to driving with no PAS again - like the old days.

Assume it woudl not fail MOT on PAS failure.

Wtf? Borlocks......

The Beard said:

Steady on folks. John has posted an opinion. Posts on forums like this one are mostly (in my experience) started to provoke a discussion or, alternatively, to gain knowledge for the OP."

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Normally I'd agree, but he seems to have spammed the Panda section a bit to much TBH, stiring up threads that have been inactive for months needlessly. I think most have got fed up with it.

Agree with MEP.

Wish someone had mentioned the spamming in the first place. In that case I'll hit him with all my holiday snaps.

Here's me and Mrs. Beard in Torquay. Here's Mrs. Beard and me in Cornwall. It won't be long and he'll be on a Corsa forum before you can say:

Overheating causes power steering failure.

So far John hasn't reappeared in the last 3 days so maybe he is spamming as MEP says.

Might have to keep an eye on his activity for a while.

Unless of course John would like to come in and explain himself.

The Beard said:

Remember, as Voltaire said: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

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Nice quote Matt and in perfect context but I don't think he did. Pretty sure it was by someone else but can't remember who offhand, school was such an age ago, lol.

great replies everyone!
guess this is the sort of question to chew over at one of the meetings.

What a weird reply, kind of like a spammer would post.....

johnswlondon said:

great replies everyone!
guess this is the sort of question to chew over at one of the meetings.

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I think I would prefer to chew on one of StuDemonD's burgers, lol.

306maxi said:

What a weird reply, kind of like a spammer would post.....

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:devil:

It would appear to be down to a Evelyn Beatrice Hall who wrote a book on Volataire but I'm not really that interested to find out the context. Mind you it is the kind of philosophical thing a philosopher would say.

306maxi said:

What a weird reply, kind of like a spammer would post.....

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Mmm, it does seem to be an odd thing to put on a forum. It didn't really say anything. If he is spamming then the best thing to do is ignore him until he goes away.

Sorry to revise an old thread, but I can sorry of agree with the original post from my Grande punto yesterday. Tried to start my car in the morning and there was a huge whining/screeching noise coming from the engine, eventually locating the noise it was my alternator and my battery light came on and I lost full power steering. Turned out my engine was completely empty on the dip stick (must've been very little left in the engine still) so went Halford bought some oil even though I thought it had nothing to do with it and all the garages were closed so thought the top up would be something Id have to do anyway and turns out it fixed the problems fully. Not sure how it's related but worked.

Always thought Halfrauds oil was magic!
Good to keep a jar handy - it'll fix anything around the house and garden!